More Wilderness Reflections from Isaiah 35

Isa 35:1  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

solitary place — literally, “a dry place,” without springs of water. A moral wilderness is meant. The very wilderness which holds us captive is actually welcoming us as a place of transformation.  As w fasting, this wilderness experience will change who we are.

for them — namely, on account of the punishment inflicted according to the preceding prophecy on the enemy; probably the blessings set forth in this chapter are included in the causes for joy (Isa_55:12). Are you one of those who have felt like you were wandering in the wilderness and cannot find a way out?  Then this reflection is for you!

rose — rather, “the meadow-saffron,” an autumnal flower with bulbous roots; so Syriac translation. These thick roots gather the water from the parched soil to sustain itself in the wilderness. We have been chosen to be a rose in the desert.

glory of Lebanon — its ornament, namely, its cedars (Isa_10:34). From barren wilderness to a forest of mighty cedars. excellency of Carmel — namely, its beauty.  Sharon — famed for its fertility. In  3 words: The majestic and fertile beauty…. Like a woman who is radiant but for her husband alone… that they may bring forth life.

see ... glory of the Lord ... excellency —While the wilderness which had neither “glory” nor “excellency” shall have both “given to it,” the Lord shall have all the “glory” and “excellency” ascribed to Him, not to the transformed wilderness [Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.]

Note also: Isa 40:5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Now what is our response to this Wilderness Call?  What are we to do? Let’s continue this passage.

Isa 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Strengthen ... hands ... confirm ... knees — The Hebrew for “strengthen” refers to the strength residing in the hand for grasping and holding a thing manfully; “confirm,” to the firmness with which one keeps his ground, so as not to be dislodged by any other [Maurer]. Encourage the Jews, now desponding, by the assurance of the blessings promised. Hands are for working and knees are for praying… two components of the ‘Body of Christ’ that have become weakened and ineffective.

fearful — “hasty,” Margin; that is, with a heart fluttered with agitation. So much stress you feel like you might have a heart attack.

with — the Hebrew is more forcible than the English Version: “God will come, vengeance! even God, a recompense!” The sense is the same.

So if we are faithful to this call… to align ourselves w God’s will for his people in the wilderness.  God’s ‘then’ for his people…

Isa 35:5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7  And [then] the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Jesus responded with compassion when a loved one needed a touch of God’s healing hand. [see Luk 7:2; 2Jon 1:5, 2Jon 1:8; Act 3:2] and this is our call, let us hear the heart of those coming to seek a touch from God.

Spiritually we have deliverance from disease.. and emotionally we feel an unquenchable JOY! We will leap and sing… and all of this in the midst of our wilderness! leap — literally, “fulfilled” (Act 3:8; Act 14:10 two of those healed get up and leap for joy). sing — joyful thanksgiving.                     in ... wilderness ... waters — (Isa_41:18).

parched ground — rather, “the mirage (Hebrew, Sharab, ‘the sun’s heat’) shall become a (real) lake.” The sun’s rays refracted on the glowing sands at midday give the appearance of a lake of water and often deceive the thirsty traveler (compare Jer_2:13; Isa_41:18).

dragons — rather, “jackals.”, that is, scavengers of the wilderness.   grass — rather, “a place for reeds,” (which only grow where there is water, Job_8:11). Where once there was no water, water shall abound.

   This is the spiritual environment that revival will bring.  The wilderness in which we find ourselves will be transformed.  Now let us come to the verse that we all know….

Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

highway — such a causeway or raised way, from a Hebrew root, “to cast up”) as was used for the march of armies; valleys being filled up, hills and other obstructions removed (Isa_62:10; compare Isa_40:3, Isa_40:4).

way of holiness — Hebraism for “the holy way.” Horsley translates, “the way of the Holy One;” but the words that follow, and Isa_35:10, show it is the way leading the redeemed back to Jerusalem, both the literal and the heavenly (Isa_52:1; Joe_3:17; Rev_21:27); still Christ at His coming again shall be the Leader on the way, for which reason it is called, “The way of the Lord” (Isa_40:3; Mal_3:1).

it shall be for those: the wayfaring men — rather, “He (the Holy One) shall be with them, walking in the way” [Horsley].

though fools — rather, “And (even) fools,” that is, the simple shall not go astray, namely, because “He shall be with them” (Mat_11:25; 1Co_1:26-28).

No lion — such as might be feared on the way through the wilderness which abounded in wild beasts, back to Judea. Every danger shall be warded off the returning people (Isa_11:6-9; Eze_34:25; Hos_2:18). Compare spiritually, Pro_3:17. None of the ‘beasts of society’ will disturb distract or discourage you.